On July 4th 2018, an opening ceremony of the carpet weaving and confectionery workshops which has been created through the internal resources of ARZU Women Development Group (WDG), was held in Sumaghally village of Ismayilly rayon. The ceremony was attended by the representatives of Ismayilly rayon Executive Committee, Center of Support to Children and Families, AzRIP staff, as well as members of Karabakh WDG from Zangishaly village of Aghdam rayon, NOVRUZ WDG from Gaysa village of Balaken rayon and Sumaghally village residents.

On 5-7 June 2018, a group of people from Azerbaijan Rural Investment Project (AzRIP) and representatives of newly established Women's Development Groups created in partnership with AzRIP, have participated at the European Development Days held in Brussels, the capital of Belgium. During the event, the delegation from AzRIP participated in the panel discussions that was particularly dedicated to Azerbaijan.

Women's Development Groups, piloted under the AzRIP, are continuing their work successfully.â€śARZUâ€ť group was established in Sumaghally village and it brings together 20 active and business women from rural areas.

On May 12 2018, results of the Azerbaijan Rural Investment Project (AzRIP) implemented by the State Service on Management of Agricultural Projects and Credits under the Ministry of Agriculture of Azerbaijan Republic was presented at the conference held in Ismayilly town.

Inspired by the successful outcome of their first initiative, the members of "Novruz" group in Gaysa village of Balaken rayon decided to take another important step in order to ensure the continuity of this success. Thus, in its next meeting, the group discussed the issue of assisting vulnerable families living in the community with clothing and school supplies.

â€śKARABAKHâ€ť Women Development Group organized as a pilot in Zangishaly village of Aghdam rayon, started operating within WOMEN'S ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT program of AzRIP.The group is comprised of 17 proactive women which aims at expanding their economic capabilities by improving their business and financial management skills, creating self-confidence, increasing the role of women in the development of the village and their own families.

WOMEN'S ECONOMIC IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM, which is piloted through the joint assistance of Ministry of Agriculture and the World Bank in AzRIP-2 covered zones, paid a visit to Zangishaly community of Agdam, AzRIP beneficiary community. Women participation was well organized despite the fact that such an event was held for the first time. Mr. Ziya Humbatov, the representative of the Aghdam rayon Executive Committee has also joined the event, expressing the importance of this program.

Located at 25 kilometers distance from the Agjabedi rayon center, the Mehrably community nimbly benefited from community projects by taking a significant step forward in cooperation with the Second Azerbaijan Rural Investment Project. They have been able to successfully complete the â€śRoad Rehabilitationâ€ť project in 2013 and â€śCommunity Renovationâ€ť project in 2015.

By the end of February 2018, 2800 tomato seedlings have been planted in the greenhouse that was installed through AzRIP in Garakhydyr community of Goychay rayon. By the end of May, the product will be taken to markets. There are two more greenhouses installed through the communityâ€™s own investment and 3600 seedlings (1800 in each) have been planted in these two greenhouses.

Within the framework of AzRIP-2 â€śCommunity Networkingâ€ť activities , an intra-zone cross visit session took place in the Regional Operations Office of the Karabakh zone with the participation of three communities: Godekler community of Beylagan rayon, Alybeyli community of Aghdam rayon and Garakhanly community of Agjabedi rayon.